You Are Not Enough
Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday and it provides us with a perfect opportunity to remember this important truth: I am not enough.
I am not enough for my kids, I am not enough for the world, I am not enough for my spouse, I am not enough for you or me and I am certainly not enough to get into heaven. The Bible confirms for me what I already know - in all ways, I fall short. And that would be terribly depressing if it weren't for Jesus.
"From dust you came and to dust you will return. Repent, and believe in the good news of Jesus."
I am growing more and more alarmed to see my fellow believers throwing around the phrase, "You are enough." I always want to respond, "Enough for what?" It is very possible that most people who use this phrase simply mean, "I love you" or "I accept you as you are" and I think those thoughts are wonderful. I take issue with the verbiage, "You are enough" because it so clearly contradicts the entire message of the gospel.
Eph. 2: 1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body[a] and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
The Bible teaches that I was born a sinner (Psalm 51:5), my heart is deceitful and desperately wicked (Jer. 17:9), I fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23), I can do nothing of eternal significance on my own (John 15:5), and the wage I earn for my sin is death (Rom. 6:23). This is the truth and it's very bad news - but that's what makes the good news so very, very good!
Eph. 2: 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
The Bible confirms for me what I already know - in all ways, I fall short. The acceptance of this truth is the first step in recognizing my need for a Savior. My many limitations become the gracious catalyst by which I realize my need for Jesus.
Col. 2: 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities[a] and put them to open shame,
by triumphing over them in him.
As we encourage one another, non believers and believers alike, let's make sure we are speaking truth. The truth is God loves you. The truth is you are created in His image and your life has deep purpose and value. The truth is you are not enough but Jesus is.
It is so much better to belong to God than to try and be god. Give thanks for your limitations and let them drive you to Christ.
"From dust you came and to dust you will return. Repent, and believe in the good news of Jesus."
